STOCK-TAKING 179 



what is happening has received some notice in 

 the press just recently. This little town in 

 Lambton county, Ontario, during the last ten 

 years has lost one quarter of its population while 

 its municipal tax bill has multiplied five fold. 

 Not even civic improvements have been suffi- 

 cient to hold the citizens in competition with the 

 cities. So, it bears repeating, that the interests 

 of organized agriculture and the interests of 

 country towns are very closely bound up 

 together. 



Here again there is striking evidence of the 

 dangers lurking in political action. Necessarily 

 the merchant and agent in the small town has a 

 close connection with the manufacturer and the 

 bank, and to a very great extent is dominated by 

 them. The farmer, goaded to complaint, strikes 

 out at the big man behind the scenes, and in his 

 fury anathematises everyone connected with 

 him, including his merchant and agent. Too 

 frequently, he does not stop to size up the situa- 

 tion and see how so many small business men, 

 against whom he is railing, are really drawn into 

 the same net as himself, and are little more than 

 tools in the hands of the men higher up. 



On the other hand, the merchant and his town 

 neighbor have so far suffered from confusion of 

 thought. They have enjoyed a comfortable 

 existence and have kindly feelings toward the 



